Posted 14 years ago
stepback_a…
(363 items)
In most navies when a sailor crosses the Equator for the first time they go through a hazing ceremony and are then awarded certificates for crossing the Equator. In this case a German sailor, Mechaniker Obergefreiter Dicker Seelbach crossed the Artic Circle while on a patrol and was awarded this hand made certificate, most likely made by another crew member who had artistic skills. This was rendered in watercolors. There is a cartoonish rendering of Neptune, King of the Sea, a mermaid, polar bears, etc. At the bottom left hand side of the certificate is a Neptune stamp with a trident. All of this was done in fun, and was a way to break the monotony of being at see for a long peroid of time. These are extremely rare, and the store that sold it had no idea what it was.
I have seen many of the equator ones (and own a handfull or two), but I have never seen or heard of this variety.
GREAT ITEM-- thanks for showing.